Impact of Economic, Social and Religious Change

Question 1

Inflation

Answer 1

Elizabeth I inherited the problem of inflation from her predecessors. Elizabeth I tried to tackle this. She did this by seizing revenue from the Church to Rome, which Mary I had reintroduced.

Question 2

Farming

Answer 2

Most commoners were subsistence farmers. This meant that they produced enough food to look after their own family, but little more. Small-scale farmers were still being threatened by enclosure. The government was trying to limit enclosure.

Question 3

Poor Law

Answer 3

Attempts had been made to reduce poverty by Edward VI in 1552. For example, beggars had to register to be allowed to beg. In 1563, Elizabeth I’s government tried to reduce the number of roaming paupers. It passed the Statute of Artificers which intended to make apprentices stay for seven years. The Poor Law was rudimentary and many people did not believe there was much of a difference between the impotent poor (those unable to work) and idle poor (those able to work).

Question 4

Taxation

Answer 4

Taxation had been a major grievance which triggered rebellion during the reigns of Elizabeth I’s predecessors. To avoid such conflict, Elizabeth I avoided reforming the taxation system.

Question 5

A Compromise

Answer 5

Elizabeth was trying to find a compromise between Catholicism and radical Protestantism. Through the Act of Supremacy, Elizabeth was the head of the Church. But many aspects of religious worship contained the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church.

Question 6

Protestant Opponents

Answer 6

Many hardline Protestants were dissatisfied with the Elizabethan settlement and wanted her to pursue further reform. Protestant reformers tried to pressure Elizabeth I. Margaret Aston has analysed a painting called ‘Edward VI and the Pope’ which used Edward VI’s reputation as a strong Protestant to pressure Elizabeth I to further her own reforms.

Question 7

Catholic Opponents

Answer 7

Almost all the Catholic bishops that were installed by Mary refused to accept Elizabeth’s settlement and were dismissed from their positions. Some ministers refused to use the new Prayer Book and continued to use the Catholic Prayer Book.

Question 8

A Successful Settlement?

Answer 8

But the opposition to Elizabeth’s settlement was relatively minimal and non-violent.
Elizabeth’s settlement was also accepted internationally. Arguably, this is because figures such as the Pope and King Philip II believed Elizabeth I could be eventually persuaded back to Catholicism.